Art and means for covering and insulating wire



(No Model.)

T. H NORMAN. v ART OF AND MEANS FOR COVERING AND INSULATING WIRE. 4

No. 443,536. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS IV. NORMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ART AND MEANS FOR COVERING AND INSULATING WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,536, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed April 29, 1890.

To alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. NORMAN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of and Means for Insulating and Covering Insulated Wire, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide such improvements in the art of and means for insulating and covering insulated wire as will enable insulated metal-covered wire to be manufactured much more speedily, economically, and perfectly than is now done.

I-Ieretofore in the process of covering insulated wire with lead it has been common to employ a reservoir containing the metalin a plastic or softened state, the reservoir be ng provided with a port or mold through which the wire to be covered is passed, the mold being separated from the wire by an annular space through which the softened metal is forced by powerful pressure and formed 1nto a covering around the wire. This process, in addition to producing a defective manufacture, resulting chiefly from the variation in the speed of feed of the wire and its covering, is quite slow and expensive of performance.

Myinvention comprises an improved mode of treating wire to be employed for electrical purposes, which consists in treating the 1nsulated wire so as to render the insulating covering proof against being burned or damaged by a few seconds contact with hot or molten metal, passing the same centrally through a chilling-mold or centrally between chilling-surfaces, and pouring molten metal around the insulated wire as it is fed forward through the mold or between the chilling-surfaces.

In addition to the foregoing I may employ a heated surface or mold for finishing the surface of the covered wire as by a soldering process.

My invention also consists of mechanism constructed and arranged for carrying out the hereinbefore-described method, and steps whereby the wire may be insulated or the 1nsulating covering may be rendered fire-proof Serial No. 34:9,971 (No model.)

to the extent necessary for the practice of my invention.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, which drawing is a Vertical sec ional view of a machinewhich may be employed by me in carrying out my invention.

In the drawing, a, designates the frame 0 the machine, which may be of any suitable form, in the top of which frame is a hopper 1), adapted to contain the chalk, clay, or similar substance, or to have steam or refrigerated air circulated therein. Below the hop per 12 is the reservoir 0, adapted to receive molten lead or other suitable metal, preferably, though not necessarily, from opposite pointsas, for example, through pipes at d, which may be supposed to be connected at their upper ends with a crucible.

Connected in a suitable manner with the lower end of the reservoir 0 is a chilling tube or mold e, which extends through a chamber f, adapted to receive water or to have refrig erated air circulated therein, and below the lower end of the tube or mold e there is arranged a polishing or finishing-wheel, or hub g, which may be rotated in any suitable way or rendered stationary, as circumstances may suggest.

The wire 71. to be covered may enter the hopper h in a naked or in an insulated state through a removable guide-ring 2', screwed into or otherwise connected with the top j centrally above the mold c. From the hopper-b the wire passes through a removable guide in the bottom of the hopper, and through a guide-hole formed in the removable covert of the reservoir 0, and from the reservoir the wire passes centrally through the tube or mold e and finishing wheel or hub g, whence it may be drawn off by any suitable means and wound upon a drum or reel or formed into a coil.

The wire h may be insulated previous to treatment by my process by covering it with textile material, asbestus, or other substance, and when so prepared, if the insulating covering is naturally combustible, the hopper 7.) through which it passes may have refrigerated air or other gas or the like circulated therein, in order to render the said covering proof against being burned by contact with the molten lead in the reservoir 0.

The aperture in the wheel or hub q, the guide-hole in the cover I, and the guides 1' l; are so arranged as to maintain the wire in the center of the tube 6 as it passes thercthrough, and so that an annular space will be secured therearound, whereby the molten lead in the chamber 0 may form a sheath or covering around the wire, and as it becomes chilled be drawn olf with the latter, as aforesaid.

The hopper Z), instead of having refrigerated air or steam circulated therein, may contain chalk, clay, or other suitable insulating substance, in which case the wire suitably prepared may enter the hopper b and be coated and insulated by the said substance, whence it may pass into the chamber 0 and through the tube 6 and be covered with lead, as before explained.

In cases where the wire is previously insw lated in fire-proof materialms, for example, in asbestus-it will be necessary only to suitably guide the wire into and through the chamber 6 and tube 6'.

The chambcrf surrounding the tube may be of suitable size and construction to keep the tube chilled or cooled to an extent suftieient to quickly chill the lead around the wire and permit the latter, covered as described, to be quite rapidly drawn oil and finished by the rotary hub g], which may be heated to an extent sufficient. to fuse the surface of the lead covering, and so close any air holes or depressions in the surface, as by a solder ing operation; or the hub may be left in a cold state and be provided with knives in, which may be constructed and arranged to shave oil? a slight portion of the exterior of the wire covering and so finish the same.

The hub g, as also the chamber c, may be kept in a heated state by a flame or flames projected thercagainst, and when the hub 5 is heated it may be maintained in a stationary position, and when the knives mare employed a guide n, having an aperture smaller than that formed in the hub r may be aranged below the latter, so that thelead-covcred wire may be maintained centrally between the knives to be acted upon thereby.

The chamber f may be provided with a thin tube or jacket 0, through which the tube passes, so as that the said tube may be removed without permitting the water or air in the said chamber to escape.

The object of making the hub 7, tube 0, cover 7, and guides 7. 1 removable is for the purpose of making them interchangeable with like parts having apertures of varying sizes, suited to the size of the wire to be treated and the cxtcn t of covering to be formed thereon.

if need be, air or other pressure may be employed in the pipes (I, or crucible, with which they connect, to assist in forcing the chilled metal in the tube 0 around the wire down through said tube.

The cars p, formed on the cover 7, are provided for the purpose of screwing the said cover on and oil the reservoir 0. In some instances the cover l may be dispensed with.

Various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts comprising my improved means without departing from the nature or spirit of that portion of the invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The improvement in the art of covering insulated wire, which consists in treating the insulated wire so as to render it proof against being burned or damaged by afew seconds contact with molten metal, passing the same central] y through a chilling-mold, and pouring molten metal around the insulated wire, treated as aforesaid, as the latter is fed through the mold, substantially as described.

2. The improvement in the art of covering insulated wire, which consists in passing the same centrally between chilling-surfaces and pouring molten metal around it as it is fed forward between said surfaces, as set forth.

The improvement in the art of insulating and covering insulated wire, which consists in passing the wire through an insulate ing lire-proof compound, then passing the wire so treated between chilling-surfaces, and pouring molten metal around it as it is fed forward between said surfaces, as set forth.

4:. The improvement in the art of insulating and covering insulated wire, which consists in passing the wire through an insulating tire-proof compound, then passing the wire so treated between chilling-surfaces and pouring molten metal around it as it is fed forward between said surfaces, and then finishing the covered wire by passing it in contact with hot soldering-surface, as set forth.

5. As a means for covering insulated wire, a reservoir for molten metal, feed-tubes therefor, a chilling-tube connected with the bottom of said reservoir, and guides for maintaining the wire centrally in said chillingtubc, substantially as described.

As a means for covering insulated wire, a reservoir for molten metal, feed-tubes therefor, a chillingtube connected with the bottom of said reservoir, guides for maintaining the wire centrally in said chilling-tube, and. a finishing hub or wheel located below said chilling tubc, substantially as described.

'7. The combination, with the hopper I), of the moltcmmetal reservoir 0, the chilling-tube c, and guides for maintaining the wire centrally in the said tube, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the 1nolten-metal reservoir chilling-tube c, chilling-chamber f, and guides for maintaining the wire centrally in said tube, substantially as described.

9. The combination, With the molten-metal reservoir 0, chilling-tube chilling-chamber 5 f, and guides for maintaining the Wire centrally in said tube, the said guides and tubes being removable, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 19th day of 10 April, A. D. 1800.

THOMAS W. NORMAN. \Vitnesses:

ARTHUR W. ORossLEY, A. D. HARRISON. 

